Collaboration between doctors and pharmacists in the community

• Published in: Australian prescriber Vol. 34; no. 2; pp. 35 - 37
• Main Authors: Jayasuriya, Pradeep, Criddle, Deirdre, Rigby, Debbie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Melbourne Therapeutic Guidelines Limited 01-04-2011
• Subjects: Accreditation; Collaboration; Committees; Drug stores; Medical personnel; Medical referrals; Patients; Pharmacists
• ISSN: 0312-8008; 1839-3942
• DOI: 10.18773/austprescr.2011.023

The challenge is defining relationships and boundaries for each of these health professionals and the patient. In the face of an ageing population and overburdened hospitals discharging patients early, accredited pharmacists could develop expertise in areas where there are gaps in medication management. For pharmacists to transition from the traditional role of dispenser to patient-centred practitioner, the culture of the pharmacy profession needs to move from a 'one size fits all' paradigm to allow role expansion for advanced practitioners in a collaborative environment.